Apparatus for the separation of minerals



`luly 22, 1941.

A. E. FLYNN APPARATUS FOR THE SEARATION OF MINERALS Filed Aug. 14, 1939 rhur Edward fly/7H Patented July 22, .1941' FOR THE SPABTION 0F Arthur EdwardFlynn, Halifax, Nova Scotia,

Application August In Canada 14, 1939,'seria1 No. zsassn September 23,A 1938 cnam. (c1. zoe-155) This invention relates to methods of and. apparatus for the separation or classification of mineral ores or like materials.

Many devices have been proposed for this purpose, such as hydraulic traps, mercury traps, amalgam and gold traps and it isl the object of the invention to provide an improved method and apparatus of this general type. l

One type of trap at present used consists of a single pocket, in the form of an inverted cone, with or without a vertical stream of water impinging on the material to be classied in the apex of the cone.

According to the invention a fluid body is circulated about a horizontal axis in a container, the material to be classified, consisting of pieces or particles of various weights, is fed into said fluid body at the ascending side thereof, the heavier particles settle in the descending portion of the vfluid body, while the lighter particles iioat out of the container'adjacent the top thereof.

The trap has at least two compartments or zones having distinct and separate functions in the recovery process, and may be activated by a horizontal or inclined jet of water that maintains an open and active bed of material to catch the valuable particles that settle in the trap, and also positively and continuously circulates the mass of material or pulp through the zones so that-any valuable mineral that is not immediately recovered is ytreated repeatedly, thereby assuring more efllcient recoveries.

The invention consists in the construction and operations hereinafter-describedland more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates, by way of example, certain convenient embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a vertical cross sectional elevation, Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 and Figure' 3 is a sectional elevation similar to Figure 1, but illustrating certain modifications.

I'he improved apparatus comprises a casing or trap which in the form shown comprises side walls I and 2, a vertical front wall 3, an arcuate bottom wall 4, and a rear wall formed by a sloping part 5 and an upper extension of the bottom wall 4. The top of the casing may be open, and upwardly diverging flanges 6, 1 and 8 may conveniently be provided at the -top ofthe walls I, 2 and 5 respectively. A suitable overflow lip 9 is provided at the top of the front wall 3, the sloping flanges l and 8 Vbeing preferably continued down the sides of this lip to prevent escape of the overflow laterally. Any convenient supporting means may be provided for the vapparatus, a support I0 and bracket II indicated for this-purpose.

Any convenient form of feed hopper is provided, that shown in the drawing being formed integrally vwith the casing. The hopper illustrated is formed partly by the upper parts of walls I, 2 and 6 and their. flanges G, 1 and 8 and partly by a partition having an upper inclined portion I2 and a lower portion I3 of steeper inclination. across the casing and may be formed integrally with the side walls ofthe casing, as indicated in Figure 2.

A centre core or baille fil is provided within 'y 'the casing, and is preferably hollow and extends entirely across the space between the side walls lI and 2, and' may be integral therewith if lso decurve I5 of the D being almost concentric with the curvature of the bottom wall l, and the other part of the D comprising a short flat upper part I6 converging downwardly towards the front wall 3 and a lower ilat part I1 which diverges down'- wardly away from wall 3.

A nozzle I8, connected to a source of water under pressure,l not shown, enters the casing adda.-

cent the bottom of the wall 3, and is so arranged as to direct a ow of water at a suitable pressure ofthe baille I4, a settling zone 22 at the' left of the baille and a collecting zone 23 at the lower part .of the casing below the jet from the nozzle IB.

More than one nozzle I8 may be provided if -desired the number of nozzles depending on the Width of the apparatus between the walls I and 2. Three ,parallel nozzles are shown. by way of example in Figure 2.

The material to be classified or sorted is fed into the hopper as indicated diagx'ammaticallyv The partition l2, I3 extends entirely -wardly travelling current of Water from the nozzle or nozzles I8, the course of theewater current being indicated approximately by dotted arrows c. 'I'he particles are carried upwandly and towards the discharge lip 9 by the current of water, and while thus travelling they separate by surface-current classifying action, the heavier and more valuable particles sinking into the settling zone 22, while the lighter waste particles flow out of the casing over the lip 9 and are disposed of in any suitable manner.

'I'he heavier material settles down through the zone 22, and passes through the jet from the nozzle I8 into the zone 23 Where it collects and from whence it is discharged either continuously or at convenient intervals, through the ,discharger baffle I4, instead of being D-shaped, may be circular as shown at 21 or any other suitable shape.

Some of the advantages of the improved trap are that it is non-choking and there are no dead areas, on account of the continuous circulation of the whole mass of material in the trap; it will not flush itself out from a surge of feed material or excess of Water; its action is not hindered by an accumulation of tramp iron, such as nails or nuts such as is often found in a clean-up material fed into arclassier; all parts are readily accessible and easily cleaned out; it uses less water than other traps: it can be used as an amalgamator of gold ores; when used for the recovery of mercury andV amalgam it cleans sickened mercury bythe washing andl scouring action of the moving sand particles and by rubring against the sides of 'the trap; and further the recirculation of material gives repeated treat- .ment and more eiiicient recovery of valuable mineral.

It will be understood that the foregoing de scription and accompanying drawing are given by way of example only and that further modifications Within the scope of the appended clalrn may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

In apparatus for the separation and classification of minerals or the like comprising a vessel having an arcuate bottom, side walls, one of which is slanted outwardly from a vertical position, another of which has an overflow lip extending outwardly from the top thereof, a centrally dis- DOsed substantially D shaped member, the curved portion of which is concentric with the arcuate bottom of the vessel, said D shaped member divides the vessel into three zones, water supply pipes situated at the bottom of *the sidewall to which the overflow lip is attached and by means of which water is discharged into the vessel and by the configuration of the said D shaped member caused to assume a rotary motion about said member, a feed hopper formed by three of the side walls other than the one to which the overilow lip is attached and an inwardly situated downwardly extending partition, whereby the material to be separated is fed below the liquid level of said vessel and in opposite direction to the flow of said liquid stream, causing the heavier particles to sink to the bottom of said vessel. the lighter particles to be moved transversely across the vessel, part thereof owing out over the overilow lip, the remaining coarser material being carried to the bottom oi the vessel wherein there is located discharge means for discharging said heavier material.

A. E. FLYNN. 

